scrawni

One things for sure, christmas will certainely be different in Australia.

I don't know whether to try and stay traditional, turkey etc for my 10 year old OR do it totally different. It is his first time without his sister, granparents etc and I want to make him feel good. Also, I know that if we stay at home then I will blubber and feel awful.

And, no real christmas tree we always go out as a family and choose one.

Anyway, I suppose that I knew that it would be this way when we arrived and that is why I have got to get myself into gear now and have it all planned.

Mandy

Pollyana

ARGHH!!! Now I'm suicidal! Have just been told the office is shut down for 10 days over Christmas.....so I get to spend lots of lovely time at home with MIL........ :scared: I can't be on my best behaviour all that time!

Ceri

I remember you saying that lol.. what a berk

I tell you what I have a wardrobe full of expensive posh frocks and such which I brought with me, do I wear them often here .. do I 'ell. Although I'm generally a slob most of the time, I miss getting dressed up to the nines sometimes. The last time I really got dressed up for a night out was at a posh do a few months ago.. ooh ahhh they let me in lol ... then I moaned because my feet were bl**din killing me in stupid high heel shoes - I usually wear flat lace up boots all year round here.

P.s I never wear "thongs".. I hate the things... now they are so nasty looking to me lol. I was never allowed to wear flip flops when I was growing up , for the reason of developing feet, and your toes tended to cling onto flip-flops.. and I thank me mam for it now.. she was right, I have very good feet..lol.


cheers

..................................................

P.s ( for the real tree post) I managed to get a real tree last year, two aborigine men where selling them next to a field... they'd jump the little wire fence which was there at this particular field ( I think it was a farmers field.. it wasn't a state plantation) , run in , chop one down for you, the one which you pointed out (.. it dropped it's pines in a few days), cost me $10 lol for a 6ft tree.

I'll stick to the plastic one of I were you, the Aus pine tree doesn't last long in this heat.. when it's chopped down.. pines everywhere.

jopaulss

We are meeting friends at the beach xmas day, then heading back to theirs for a barbie and a swim in the pool, then boxing day we are heading north to shark bay for 10 days.
The first year here i cooked a traditional dinner on xmas day never again, the heat nearly killed me. Last year we hit the beach and did the salad and cold meats etc in the evening. This year we had xmas in July and that was weired but still nice.
We will still put the plastic tree up but its not quite the same i have to say as the xmas we used to have back home, but never mind its all about change isnt it, new country new way of life etc etc, we love it anyway
Joanne

Hels

A hint to all those that still want the "traditional" chrissy dinner....

Do it on your webber OUTSIDE!!!! Then it doesnt get too hot in the house...



Really, thats what we mainly do if we decide to go that route. Then other years, we would have a cold lunch, usually of seafood....

I have to say, having experienced christmas in both hemisphere's....I like the Ozzie one best...Nothing better than after you open your pressies, going outside and seeing all the kids out on the street riding their brand new bikes that Santa got them....Thats Christmas to me.... Didnt see that in the UK...

Craig822

WOW!! - this thread has certainly filled up - deffo my best yet!!!.

Thanks for all your comments, you've pretty much confirmed what we suspected - it wont be the same, but it will be memorable!. I guess thats all part of the experience of moving all that way though. I think I was looking back with a sentimental frame of mind, on reflection it DOES tend to be a bit of a let-down in the end - watching the same naff on TV and having a barney with the in-laws (when they're awake!).

I think the important thing will be to make sure its a happy time for our 2 kids (5 and 1) - as it has been for the 5 year old over the past few years. Last year we went up to the Abruzzi mountains here in Italy (my wifes ONLY time away from home in her life) and really enjoyed it. Stayed in a hotel for 3 nights with loads of friends from work here. Snowed heavily Christmas eve (so bad the car got stuck) and we awoke to a proper white Christmas. Before our daughter awoke I went out on to the balcony put hand prints on the rail and foot-prints coming from the side and into the room. Shes still convinced they were Santas.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think Christmas is what you make it. As long as the kids look back when they are our age and look at it sentimentally then we've done our best.

HATE the expense of it all and the NAFF decos though! - far too commercialised in the UK recently for my liking and why does it start before Remembrance Day now - DRIVES ME NUTS!!!

Cheers all

mlbonner

Just come back from the shops and I'm afraid to tell you they were putting decorations out on the shelves (in preparation for the October rush I guess ) So you wont avoid that here really unfortunately. I give them another couple of weeks till Christmas tunes are being played as well.

Christmas always seems that bit more magical with kids around. This year we are kidless, next year we'll have my partners daughter with us, should make it more fun

Paul&Ann-Marie

I think i look at christmas a little differently to ann-marie.
One of the things i never enjoyed was going from one member of family to the next on xmas day.

For me, xmas is for the kids, we have two,ages 7 & 9 and it's been the same thing every year, open the pressies, then jump inthe car and go here, open the pressies,then jump in the car and go there.They never got chance to actually play with any of there presents until boxing day , and then it was only for an hour or two because we were going somewhere else for a buffet.

Whilst i will undoubtedly miss family over xmas, i'm really looking forward to spending more money on my own kids and watching them relax playing with whatever the big red sod on a sledge brings them.
As for the cooking, i want a roast dinner and don't see the problem with the weather, but then i wont be cooking it

Paul

jopaulss

Hels - Yes i agree cook it outside, except we dont have a barbie, yep been here 2 years still havent got one

jwinch

I went shopping in Tescos last night, the shop was full of decorations and christmas food, with the usual christmas songs playing.

I love Christmas but all the hype in the UK does make you a bit sick of it by the time it arrives. - Still at least it means I won't have long to wait now for the hot cross buns and easter eggs

ACE

Hi mandy,
We had the full works on Christmas day, we prepared the veg etc the night before and put the turkey on in the morning after pressie opening. We went off after breakfast to the beach, which was just across the road, and we met lots of other families. The children had a great time and I left hubby swimming with the kids while I popped back once to check on things. We came home in the afternoon, ate our dinner on the balcony and popped out afterwards for a walk and a paddle. In the evening we had a light lobster supper on the balcony and watched the sunset.

At the moment I feel as though I never want another Christmas in the UK. I lost my mother on boxing day 16 years ago and so I always feel down at this time. Last year was the first time in 16 years that I have not felt depressed during the festive season. There are lots of divisions and people not talking to each other in our family so I am always required to devise a rota.

Lots of factors but give me an Oz Christmas any day.

ACE

jjj

I can't wait!! We had hoped to be in Oz just before Xmas but at the moment it looks like it might be early next year.
Having lived in South Africa for 21 years I can't wait for a southern hemisphere Xmas again and neither can my children.
I agree the lead upto Xmas in the UK is good but for us a proper family day playing in a pool or in the sea is great. My 13 year has asked if we can have our traditional Xmas dinner one evening instead (maybe on the 24th or 26th)
But in truth I will NOT be missing the cold and how often do we really have a white Xmas?

Ushas

You know this thread contains a hell of a lot of 'it's not a normal christmas' or 'it's not the same' or 'it's just not christmas'...

Sorry but you've moved to the opposite side of the world...didn't you expect different?

I know I'm getting a bit defensive because I am Australian but Christmas and anything else you do, is what you make it. Yes you miss people and doing the 'same old thing' year in year out. I know I do now that I'm in the UK. But I adapt. I love the 'UK' traditions as well as the Aus traditions. But White Christmases and stuff??? Where??? When??? Bloody rain and drizzle and grey is all I've ever seen on Christmas Day. I'd much rather have open spaces and blue sky. Most people do 'traditional' dinners too.

But I honestly cannot understand why people move to a completely different country and then spend hours on end on a forum moaning that it's different. Of course it is!!!!

Ok I fully expect to get shot down in flames now. But that's ok cause I live in the UK and this blasted p***ing rain will put out the flames.

Yes it's hard. I know. I'm doing it too, just the other way. But adjust to the difference. Stop looking for Oz to be England with good weather cause it's not, never was and never will be. Do something you've never done before. Make some new traditions for your family. And SMILE!!! At least you've got the sun!

jopaulss

Ushas i think that was great, its true, there has to be change doesnt there. We wanted different from our every day routine and we have it and we love it, and yes its great when we ring home xmas day and they have all been doing the same old boring rounds and we have been lay on the beach, heaven hey Are you heading back home one day?
Joanne

jjj

Well said - we are moving because it is different
Of course we will miss friends and family but definately want the OZ lifestyle and will embrace everything Australian definately the warmth!!!!